Quick disconnect with a position compensating seal

ABSTRACT

A novel quick disconnect, the nipple portion of which is provided with a unique spring seal comprising a retainer and a plurality of Belleville springs contained within an annular pocket within the retainer. The nipple is provided with a body having a flanged portion which floats on the spring seal relative to an annular chamber within the wrench portion of the threaded member of the nipple. In addition, the wrench portion of the corresponding coupler is chamfered in order to automatically adjust the nipple body despite misalignment of radial, angular and axial type, thereby permitting secure leak-proof interconnection of the quick disconnect members. Such capability is especially useful in accommodating coolant fluid flow through a plurality of serially interconnected electrical chasses wherein misalignment of quick disconnect flow connectors cannot be readily accommodated by manual adjustment means and must be accommodated by automatic adjustment of the quick disconnect components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to quick disconnects and morespecifically to a quick disconnect having a spring seal whichcompensates for misalignment between the female and male connectorsthereof to permit interconnection therebetween even when there isradial, axial and angular misalignment of the male member relative tothe female member.

2. Prior Art

Quick disconnects are well-known in the art. They are commonly used tointerconnect one flexible pipe to another flexible pipe, both of whichpipes are adapted for the flow of a fluid therethrough. The term "pipe"as used herein means any type of fitting, hose, boss, etc., to which aquick disconnect may be attached. The term "quick disconnect" is derivedfrom the performance characteristics of this type of connector. Morespecifically, a quick disconnect is adapted to permit disconnection ofthe two fluid carrying pips with a self-sealing feature designed so thatlittle or no quantities of the fluid escape the connectors upondisconnection. Furthermore, the process of disconecting the two pipescan be implemented by simple mechanical release thereof without thenecessity for disconnecting or unfastening a plurality of conventionalfastening elements such as bolts and the like.

Virtually all quick disconnects comprise two major members called a"coupler" and a "nipple", respectively. Each such member is designed tomate with the corresponding fluid carrying pipe and then to be matedwith each other so that the respective pipes can be interconnected. Thenipple may be regarded as the male member in that it slides into thecoupler. Typically, the nipple comprises a spring loaded poppet and thecoupler comprises a stationary stem. When the coupler and nipple aremated, the coupler stem is designed to engage the nipple poppet, pushingit away from the interface of the two members whereby to permit fluidflow around the poppet of the nipple as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed. In addition, when the two members are interconnected, thenipple body slides into the coupler body so as to depress a springloaded cylinder called the coupler poppet, the depression of whichallows fluid flow through the coupler as well. In order to interconnectthe coupler and nipple portions of the quick disconnect it is generallynecessary of axially align the two members relative to one another.

When the coupler and nipple members of a quick disconnect are connectedto flexible hoses readily accessible for being manually aligned relativeto one another, there is generally no difficulty in assuring that thetwo members are axially configured relative to one another to provideeasy interconnection therebetween. However, there are occasions when itis difficult or impossible to accurately control the axial position ofthe coupler and nipple relative to one another to assure that they areperfectly aligned to facilitate their easy interconnection. One suchexample of inaccessibility of alignment arises when the respectivemembers of a quick disconnect are mounted to boxes or chassis such asthose which contain electrical equipment which, for example, are to bepanel mounted. Such a configuration may, for example, be encountered inthe avionics equipment bay of an aircraft where electrical equipmentrequires fluid coolant to dissipate relatively high levels of power. Insuch situations, one or more couplers of quick disconnects may bemounted to one piece of electrical equipment and one or more nipples ofquick disconnects may be mounted to a second piece of electricalequipment. Such quick disconnects may be provided to permit the flow ofa cooling fluid between such electrical equipment so that one source ofcooled fluid may be used to circulate among a plurality of electricalequipment chassis in order to carry away the heat generated by the powerdissipation of such electrical equipment.

Precise axial alignment of the mating coupler and nipple portions ofeach quick disconnect in such configurations may be very difficult. Suchdifficulty may arise because the quick disconnect members are notaccurately positioned on the electrical chassis so that one such memberis displaced axially, radially and angularly with respect to the other.Conventional quick disconnect members which require virtually preciseaxial alignment of the coupler and nipple for mating and proper sealingof the quick disconnect, may make it virtually impossible to overcomesuch difficulties thereby requiring more expensive accurate placement ofthe quick disconnect members on the respective electrical equipmentchassis. This is particularly true where one or both such electricalchassis to be mated to another, is mechanically constrained so that itis impossible to adjust the overall position of the electrical equipmentchassis to compensate for the inaccurate alignment of the quickdisconnect members.

The following U.S. Pat. Nos. are relavant to the present invention:

3,532,350 Kaufman

4,023,831 Thompson

4,116,451 Nixon et al

4,160,551 Nixon et al

4,191,389 Jelinek

4,196,913 Oak

4,387,902 Conover

4,470,608 Warren

4,599,171 Padilla et al

4,657,188 Crane et al

U.S. Pat. No. 4,657,188 to Crane et al is directed to a spray system fora dishwashing machine having an inlet conduit adapted for insertion intoa supply conduit to connect a spray manifold to the supply. The lowerend of manifold includes an inlet conduit having an open end which isinsertable within open end of branch conduit, having a widened mouthformed about open end. A sealing O-ring is disposed within a grooveabout open end of inlet conduit, forming a fluid tight seal uponinsertion of open end into open end.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,831 to Thompson is directed to a plastic pipefitting having a telescoping member. A tubular member extends axiallyoutwardly from coupling member, which includes a pair of O-ring sealslocated within annular grooves, within coupling member. The end oftubular member, disposed within coupling member, is provided with a ringmember secured by fusion bonding to the outer surface of tubular member.However, ring member is not an end seal, but is adapted to limit theextent of axial movement of tubular member outwardly from couplingmember.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,532,350 to Kaufman is directed to a composite sealcomprising an annular ring of resilient material and having springsembedded therein. The annular packing ring comprises resilient material,such as rubber or plastic, and a plurality of coil springs disposedcentrally within. These springs reinforce the biasing effect of thepacking member. In another embodiment, a U or V-shaped spring isembedded within packing ring and includes outwardly extending fingers ormay be continuous as provided with spring shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,913 to Oka is directed to a gasket having aconstruction wherein an undulating base plate is located intermediate apair of surface plates. The base plate is provided with undulationssurrounding holes in the gasket to impart elasticity to the base plate,as is similarly done in the present invention using Bellevile springwashers. The surface plates are metallic in nature and may be slightlysofter than the base plate, as this gasket is intended for use as acylinder head gasket.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,608 to Warren is directed to a resilient gaskethaving an internally an internally positioned spring means. The flexibleresilient gasket is shown to include a metal spring means. The springmeans is formed by a pair of elongate strip of spring steel which arecurved along their length, with the concave surfaces facing each other.

There is therefore a need for a quick disconnect member which isdesigned to permit axial, radial and angular misalignment between themale and female members of the quick disconnect while still providing asecure and leak-proof interconnection therebetween.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the aforementioned need by providing aquick disconnect nipple or male member which is designed to permit thebody portion thereof to be at least initially misaligned axially,radially and angularly with respect to the interfacing coupler or femalemember whereby a secure leak-proof interconnection therebetween ispossible despite the aforementioned initial misalignment. Morespecifically, the present invention comprises an improved quickdisconnect nipple member which utilizes a novel spring seal having aretainer forming an annular pocket and receiving a plurlaity ofBelleville springs. This seal is positioned between the nipple body andthe adjacent threaded member of the nipple. More particularly, the sealis positioned between a flange portion of the nipple body and the wrenchportion of the nipple threaded member, the inner diameter of the latterbeing larger than the outer diameter of the former. This positioningpermits the nipple body to mechanically float on the aforementionedspring seal and to move axially, radially and angularly with respect tothe threaded member of the nipple which is affixed to the electricalchassis to which the quick disconnect is mounted.

The retainer or seal body portion of the spring seal is preferably madeof a relatively resilient material such as rubber or rubber-likecompounds of selectable degree of hardness. The interface between suchrubber-like material retainer and the adjacent metal surfaces preventsfluid flow therearound, effectively seals the adjustable nipple bodydespite variation in its axial, radial or angular orientation relativeto the threaded member portion of the nipple. The plurality ofBelleville springs gives the spring seal the ability to bend and flex tothe degree required to reorient the nipple body for alignment with thefemale portion of the quick disconnect on an adjoining electricalchassis, but without distorting the surface of the seal body holding theBelleville springs to the extent that a leak would otherwise develop.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to providean improved quick disconnect having at least one member designed topermit secure leak-proof interconnection of the quick disconnect membersdespite an initial misalignment of one such member relative to the otherin axial, radial and angular orientation.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide animproved quick disconnect, the nipple portion thereof having anadjustable body which can be reoriented axially, radially, and angularlywith respect to the fixed threaded portion of the nipple to permitinterconnection between the nipple and coupler portions of the quickdisconnect despite initial relative misalignment therebetween.

It is still an additional object of the present invention to provide animproved quick disconnect which utilizes a novel spring seal comprisinga resilient retainer forming an annular pocket into which is positioneda plurality of Belleville springs, such spring seal being positionedbetween the nipple body and the nipple threaded member to permit thebody portion to float with respect to the seal for adjustment in axial,radial and angular directions relative to the coupler portion of thequick disconnect for interconnection therewith despite initialmisalignment therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention, aswell as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be more fullyunderstood hereinafter as a result of a detailed description of apreferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with thefollowing drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view providing an illustrative example of twoelectrical equipment chassis designed to be interconnected by aplurality of quick disconnects for the passage of fluid flowtherebetween;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the quick disconnect members of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a spring seal in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view of the spring seal shown in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 provide cross-sections views of the quick disconnect ofthe present invention in three different sequential positions as themembers thereof are connected relative to one another; and FIGS. 8 and 9are cross-sectional views similar to that of FIGS. 5-7 but illustratingthe interconnection of the quick disconnect of the present inventionwhen there is initial misalignment of the nipple and coupler portionsthereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown therein a first equipmentchassis 10 and a second equipment chassis 12. Chassis 10 is providedwith a plurality of quick disconnect couplers 14 which are of thefemale-type and chassis 12 is provided with a plurality of quickdisconnect nipples 16 which are of the male-type. Electrical wiringharnesses 18 and 20 provide electrical interconnection to chassis 10 and12, respectively, while fluid hoses 15 and 17 provide fluid input tochassis 10 and fluid output from chassis 12, respectively. It will beunderstood that FIG. 1 is of an illustrative nature only, that is, itillustrates one example of two electrical chassis adapted forinterconnection for fluid flow therebetween and having one or more quickdisconnects for that purpose. Chassis 10 and 12 of FIG. 1 illustrate oneexample of a situation in which a quick disconnect interconnection ismade by physically repositioning the chassis with respect to one anotherso that the alignment of the male and female members of the quickdisconnect determines the ease or difficulty of making the fluid flowinterconnection between the chassis.

Unlike quick disconnects which are mounted to flexible hoses and whichcan be manually aligned relative to one another to assure a secureinterconnection therebetween, when one or more quick disconnects ispositioned on an electrical chassis for example, the physical alignmentbetween a coupler such as coupler 14 and a nipple such as nipple 16, isdictated by the physical positions of the chassis 10 and 12 to whichsuch quick disconnect members are mounted. However, it is not unusualfor the physical position of one or both of two interconnectingelectrical chassis to be predetermined by other mechanical limitingmeans such as physical dimensions of a panel opening or mechanicaltracks to which one or both of the electrical chassis is connected. Evenin those cases where there are no such physical constraints, if thereare more than one fluid flow quick disconnect interconnections mountedon two electrical chassis, such as chasses 10 and 12, there is asubstantial likelihood of some degree of misalignment between thecoupler and nipple portions of each such quick disconnect relative tothe other. This results in a misalignment problem which could precludeinterconnection without the benefit of the present invention.

The arrowheads shown adjacent each of the nipples 16 of electricalchassis 12 in FIG. 1 indicates various misalignment directions whichcould occur and which in fact are likely to occur. Thus for example,quick disconnect nipple 16, seen as the right-most positioned quickdisconnect male member shown in FIG. 1 on chassis 12, is shown adjacentan axially directed arrowhead indicating an improperly positioned quickdisconnect member along the axis between the nipple and the coupler. Onthe other hand, the left-most nipple 16a of FIG. 1 is shown adjacentarrowheads which are directed horizontally indicating a radialmisalignment in a horizontal direction. Similarly, nipple 16b indicatesa radial misalignment in a vertical direction. Nipple 16c is adjacent anarrowhead which illustrates an angular misalignment along a horizontalangle and nipple 16d is shown adjacent an arrowhead indicating anangular misalignment along a vertical angle. Any one of these alignmentor positioning problems which could occur with respect to any of thequick disconnects shown in FIG. 1, would ordinarily preclude the secureleak-proof interconnection of a coupler 14 and a corresponding nipple16. It will be seen hereinafter that the present invention is designedto permit the secure leak-proof interconnection of such quick disconnectmembers despite the presence of all of the aforementioned alignment orposition errors in either the female or male member of the quickdisconnect. In fact, a preferred embodiment of the present invention iscapable of compensating for an angular error of + or -3 degrees, forradial misalignment of + or -0.02 inches, and for an axial misalignmentof + or -0.015 inches.

FIG. 2 illustrates the exterior components of the male and femalemembers of the quick disconnect of the present invention. Morespecifically, as seen in FIG. 2 quick disconnect coupler 14 is providedwith a body 34 and a threaded member 36 and quick disconnect nipple 16is provided with a body 22 and a threaded member 32, but furtherincludes a spring seal 24 positioned between the body 22 and thethreaded member 32 as will be hereinafter more fully described. Themisalignment or axial position compensation capability of the presentinvention is made possible by spring seal 24 the details of which aremore fully shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 it will be seen tha each spring eal 24comprises a retainer 26 and a plurality of Belleville springs 28.Retainer 26 is an annular member providing an annular pocket 30 alongthe inner annular edge thereof which pocket is adapted to receive aplurality of Belleville springs 28. In the particular example shown inFIG. 4 there are four such Belleville springs. Retainer 26 is preferablymade of a resilient flexible material such as rubber or rubber-likecompound which can readily flex and retain its resiliency despitecompressive forces engaging the Belleville springs therein along eithera portion of or the entire periphery of retainer 26.

The position of spring seal 24 within the nipple 16 is best understoodby referring to FIG. 5, 6 and 7 which also show the sequentialinterconnection between a typical coupler 14 and nipple 16 of thepresent invention. It will be seen in FIG. 5 for example that the body22 of the nipple 16 is provided with a flanged portion 35 and that thethreaded member 32 of the nipple 16 is provided with a wrench portion 37having an interior rectangular cross-section annular chamber 39 forreceiving the spring seal 24, the retainer 26 of which is alsorectangular in cross-section. The radial edge and one axial edge ofretainer 26 is positioned in relatively fixed abutting relationship withthe walls of annular chamber 39 while the second radial edge of retainer26 is free to slideably engage the flanged portion 35 of nipple body 22.A snap ring 44 and grommet 46 overlie and retain the coupler facing edgeof flange portion 35 so that the body 22 is securely positioned relativeto the threaded member 32. It will be seen in FIG. 5, which shows theinitial contact portion of the interconnection sequence between thecoupler 14 and nipple 16 where there is no form of misalignment betweenthe two members of the quick disconnect, that when the nipple body 22 isaccurately aligned along the central axis of the quick disconnect, thereis an annular gap between the wrench portion 37 of threaded member 32and the flange portion 35 of nipple body 22, this gap being identifiedby reference numeral 41.

It will also be seen in FIG. 5 that the nipple body 22 is provided witha recessed annular portion 70 in the base region just above the flange35 and adjacent the grommet 46. The combination of recess 70 and annulargap 41 permits a substantial degree of lateral and angular movement ofthe nipple body 22 relative to the threaded member 32 of nipple 16.However, because of the interaction of the Belleville springs 28 withinthe retainer 26, any such radial or angular reorientation of the nipplebody 22 within certain limits permits retention of the sealinginteraction between the retainer 26 and the flanged portion 35 of nipple16 thereby preventing any leakage of coolant or other fluid flow betweenthe nipple body 22 and threaded member 32. Two forms of likelymisalignment are shown in FIG. 8 and 9, respectively. In FIG. 8 there isradial displacement of the nipple with respect to the coupler and inFIG. 9 there is angular displacement of the nipple with respect to thecoupler. In both such instances of misalignment, because of the uniqueconfiguration of the spring seal 24 and the floating capability of thenipple body 22, a secure interconnection between quick disconnectmembers is still accomplished.

The operation of the quick disconnect in all other respects is of aconventional nature and utilizes components of a conventional type allof which are well-known to those having skill in the art to which thepresent invention pertains. By way of example, nipple 16 also includes apoppet 38, a spring 40, a guide 42, a rod 48 and an O-ring 50.Similarly, coupler 14 provides a stem 52, an O-ring 54, a spring 56, apoppet 58, the latter providing an annular flange 60 against whichnipple body 22 bears when the nipple and coupler are interconnected. AnO-ring 66 is also provided in the coupler 14. The sequence ofinterconnection of the nipple and coupler of the present invention isillustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 and it will be seen that when the twoare fully interconnected as shown in FIG. 7, fluid may flow through anipple channel 62 and a coupler channel 64. Of special note with respectto the coupler 14 is the chamfered edge 68 at the nipple end of a wrenchportion 19 thereof. Chamfered edge 68 has the effect of automaticallyorienting the nipple body 22 particularly when there is some form ofmisalignment such as radial misalignment shown in FIG. 8 or angularmisalignment shown in FIG. 9. In the particular embodiment shown herein,the present invention is capable of providing a leak-proofinterconnection between the nipple and coupler even when there is upto + or -3 degrees of angular misalignment, + or -0.02 inches of radialmisalignment and + or -0.015 inches of axial misalignment. It isbelieved that the present invention is the only known quick disconnectcapable of providing a leak-proof interconnection between a nipple and acoupler despite having any one or more of these three different forms ofmisalignment.

It will now be understood that what has been disclosed herein comprisesa novel quick disconnect, the nipple portion of which is provided with aunique spring seal comprising a retainer and a plurality of Bellevillesprings contained within an annular pocket within the retainer. Thenipple is provided with a body having a flanged portion which floats onthe spring seal relative to an annular chamber within the wrench portionof the threaded member of the nipple. In addition, the wrench portion ofthe corresponding coupler is chamfered in order to automatically adjustthe nipple body despite misalignment of radial, angular and axial type,thereby permitting secure leak-proof interconnection of the quickdisconnect members. Such capability is especially useful inaccommodating coolant fluid flow through a plurality of seriallyinterconnected electrical chasses wherein misalignment of quickdisconnect flow connectors cannot be readily accommodated by manualadjustment means and must be accommodated by automatic adjustment of thequick disconnect components as herein described.

Those having skill in the art to which the present invention pertainswill now, as a result of the applicant's teaching herein, perceivevarious modifications and additions which may be made to the invention.By way of example, other forms of seals which do not use springs orwhich use springs of a type other than Belleville springs, may beutilized in accordance with the teaching herein to accommodate theautomatic adjustment to compensate for misalignment in the manner hereindescribed. However, it will be understood that all such modificationsand additions are deemed to be within the scope of the invention whichis to be limited only by the claims appended hereto.

I claim:
 1. An improved quick disconnect of the type having a femalecoupler and a male nipple for non-threaded compressively engagedinterconnection to permit fluid flow therebetween, the improvementpermitting secure leak-proof connection between the coupler and thenipple despite initial misalignment of their respective axes, theimprovement comprising:a nipple providing a wrench portion having anoversize annular chamber and having a nipple body providing a flangedportion positioned for radial, angular and axial movement within saidannular chamber; and a seal positioned within said annular chamberbetween said wrench portion and said flanged portion of said nipplebody, said seal having a ring-shaped retainer of resilient flexiblematerial and forming an annular pocket, said seal also having aplurality of Belleville-type springs coaxially positioned within saidannular pocket whereby a sealing relationship is provided between saidnipple body and said wrench portion despite radial, angular or axialmovement of said nipple body to accommodate said initial misalignment.2. The improvement recited in claim 1 further comprising a couplerhaving a chamfered radial termination ajacent said nipple body forautomatically forcing said body into alignment with said coupler duringinterconnection of said quick disconnect.
 3. The improvement recited inclaim 1 wherein said nipple further comprises a snap ring positionedadjacent said flanged portion of said nipple body opposite said seal forretaining said nipple body in contact with said seal despite radial,angular or axial movement of said nipple body during connection of saidnipple to said coupler.
 4. A nipple for a quick disconnect of the typeused for non-threaded compressively engaged interconnection with acoupler, the nipple comprising:a threaded member having an axial fluidpath therethrough; a cylindrical body; and a seal, the seal beingpositioned between the threaded member and the body and having a hollowring-shaped retainer with an inner radial opening forming an annularpocket, said seal also having a plurality of Belleville-type circularsprings contained in said annular pocket to prevent fluid leakagebetween said threaded member and said cylindrical body despite motion ofsaid body relative to said threaded member in radial, angular or axialdirection relative to the axis of said threaded member.
 5. The nipplerecited in claim 4 wherein said retainer is made of a resilient,flexible material.
 6. The nipple recited in claim 5 wherein saidmaterial is a rubber-like compound.